Phil Foden thinks of problems outside the field and an ankle injury were important factors that led to a “difficult season” with Manchester City.
The International of England played a leading role when City won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season and scored 26 goals in all competitions while collecting various individual awards.
However, FODEN is unable to touch these heights this period, in which he has only found the net 10 times in all competitions.
The 24-year-old also did not score in each of his last 19 games for Club and Country in a run that extends until January.
Foden also felt that he rushed back after storing a “bad” ligament injury to his ankle against Rivals Manchester United at the beginning of April.
“I have had many things off the field mentally,” he said. “It is one of them – sometimes there are things in life that are bigger than football. This season I struggled a bit.
“Hopefully, come next year, I can get my head mentally on the right, come back where I left the season earlier – because I know what I can do and the quality I have.
“It was difficult. [My ankle] It took a while to heal before I could push myself back into the training, I had to take care of it. It was a frustrating season for me.
“I know that if everything was fine, I would certainly be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and go further. Unfortunately I have had a difficult season.
“Now it's just about improving and coming back to my best. I know my standards and what I can achieve. I look forward to coming back.”
Catch me if you canpic.twitter.com/4BX6H7GN89
– Manchester City (@Mancity) May 21, 2025
City brings the curtain to their disappointing Premier League season against Fulham on Sunday and needs a point to guarantee Champions League qualification.
The side of Pep Guardiola then travels to the United States for the extensive Club World Cup, which starts on June 14.
Before that, England Andorra plays in a world cup qualification on June 7, while he organized Senegal in a friendly three days later, and Foden suggested that he might have to consider skipping the international duty to let his ankle rest.
“It is clear that it is a difficult situation for me with the internationals around the corner,” he added.
“It is something that we have to speak with the club and the national team to see if it is better to rest and my ankle completely 100% back how I want it.
“I just don't know at the moment. It is a conversation and we will see what is happening.
“It is clearly difficult because the boys of this season have been mentally emptied. I believe that everyone needs the right moment to recover to go back to next season.
“Of course there will be this competition that will be discussed. It will be a funny; some clubs will take it more seriously than others, but I know that City and the club we are, we will certainly take it seriously.”